Salerno's "Luci d'Artista": the brightest event of the year

Every single part of Salerno is enveloped in a special magic when "Luci d’Artista" - meaning Artists’ Lights - is lit. The whole city is a riot of LED-powered illuminations, for a luminous celebration with low environmental impact.

To view them to best advantage, stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main shopping street, to Piazza Portanova to see the Christmas tree, a truly majestic display. Next, explore Piazza Caduti di Brescia and Piazza Monsignor Grasso, where luminous surprises await you, and then move on to Via dei Mercanti, the city’s most colourful street.

This year, moreover, a pleasant surprise has been reserved for Salerno residents and tourists alike: the reopening of the Santa Teresa Solarium, completely renovated after the recent redevelopment works.

There are only 25 kilometres separating Salerno from the Amalfi Coast, which can be travelled by land or by ferry from the port, making it a truly unmissable stop on your trip to Campania.

After strolling around "Luci d'Artista", check the weather forecast for the main towns on the Amalfi Coast and you will discover the typical mild temperatures of the Mediterranean climate, even in autumn and winter. There may be a few slightly cooler days, but all the others are warm and sunny, which is not uncommon.

Book a hotel or B&B on the fly and take advantage of the many last-minute offers for a tour of the Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, Vietri sul Mare, Ravello, Castellammare di Stabia, Atrani, Praiano, Maiori and Meta are famous and exclusive places, where many facilities remain open even outside the summer months. 

To best enjoy a holiday on the Amalfi Coast in winter, one is spoilt for choice. In Sorrento, the Christmas tree in Piazza Tasso is a sight to behold, with people meeting to make a toast, celebrate and dance with friends under its cascading lights. Shortly after midnight, the port of Sorrento becomes the protagonist of a beautiful fireworks display.

In Amalfi, the magnificent village is artistically decorated, including the Duomo. Walk through the streets of the centre and follow the pipers. The festoons, the markets, the live music, everything here is beautiful. In Minori you can enjoy a tour of artistic nativity scenes, in a festival with ancient roots and all-Italian craftsmanship. Ravello, on the other hand, is the right venue to attend the Christmas Concert in the splendid Niemeyer auditorium, designed by the architect of the same name, Oscar Niemeyer.
Then move on to Atrani, an adorable mediaeval town, the smallest on the Coast. The narrow streets and the Piazzetta, the picturesque steps overlooking the sea and the arches all glitter with Christmas lights, transforming the town into a treasured jewel. In the Church of Santa Maria Del Bando, a craftsman creates nativity scenes in small glass bells.

Sample traditional Campania Christmas sweets: zeppole (doughnuts), struffoli (fried balls of sweet dough), mostaccioli (biscuits).

And while summer dishes are dominated by fish, now you can taste the speciality of the season: mushrooms. In fact, the wooded areas of the area are home to various types. And it is also the right time to try mushroom pizza, especially the fried pizza version with mushroom cream.

"Luci d'Artista" is an annual and now regular event to look forward to and celebrate the Christmas holidays in perfect Italian style, with that flavour of Campania that makes everything brighter, more entertaining and authentic.